The leaders of Chelsea have begun to think about other alternatives in defense, since the transfer of Jules Kounde has remained suspended. The London Blues have agreed to pay Sevilla their asking price of £55m, with the Frenchman also agreeing personal terms on the contract. But the serious interest of Barcelona, during these days, seems to have stopped the formalization of the move.
It is understood that Barcelona are in constant contact with Kounde, and the latter is keen to listen to both offers before making a final decision. This has made coach Tuchel look for other options, in the case of the worst case scenario. Among the names that have caught the attention of the London leaders are Pau Torres of Villarreal, Skriniar of Inter, Josko Gvaridol of Leipzig as well as the duo of Bayern Munich, Dayot Upamecano and Benjamin Pavard.
The London Blues have also contacted Leipzig over the potential transfer of Nordi Mukiele. However, the latter has accepted the personal terms of the contract with PSG, and is expected to finalize the move to the Parc des Princes very soon.
Important to say is the fact that Chelsea have not yet given up on their main target, Kounde. The deal between the Sevilla player and the English club is still on the table and there is hope in Chelsea that Barcelona will not be able to come with a better economic offer. The defender meanwhile continues to attend individual training sessions with Sevilla on a regular basis.
The Spanish club is currently in Lisbon, Portugal, as it prepares for the new season. Kounde meanwhile is recovering from a minor injury that required surgery. This is the main reason why the French defender continues to train separately from the group.
